How did Sam Darnold injure his oblique?· What is an oblique injury, and how does it typically affect a quarterback's performance?· How severe is Sam Darnold's oblique strain?

Sam Darnold is listed as questionable for the Seahawks' playoff game due to an oblique injury, but he is personally very confident he will play.

🏈 Sam Darnold's Injury Status

· Injury: Oblique strain.

· Game Status: Officially Questionable for the NFC Divisional Round game against the San Francisco 49ers (Saturday, January 17, 2026).

· Player's Outlook: Darnold stated the chance he doesn't play is "close to a zero-percent chance" and that he is "really confident about going on Saturday". He left practice early as a precaution and received treatment.

🧾 Seahawks' Latest Injury Report

Here is the key injury information for the Seahawks heading into the playoff game:

· Sam Darnold (QB): Questionable (oblique). Limited in Thursday's practice.

· Josh Jones (T): Out (knee). Did not practice.

· Elijah Arroyo (TE) / Chazz Surratt (LB): Out. Will not be activated from injured reserve.

· Charles Cross (T) / Coby Bryant (S): Expected to return from injury with no game status designation.

🔄 Seahawks Quarterback Depth Chart

If Darnold cannot play, the Seahawks' quarterback order would be:

1. Drew Lock (Backup QB): Would be the next man up to start. He received first-team snaps in practice on Thursday. In his career, he has a 10-18 record as a starter.

2. Jalen Milroe (Rookie): The third-string quarterback.

💡 What This Means for the Game

While the official "questionable" tag means his status is uncertain until game day, Darnold's own high confidence level suggests the team is likely managing a minor issue. The main concern will be whether the oblique injury affects his throwing power or mobility during the game.

For the most official update, you can check the Seahawks' injury report on their team website, which is typically updated daily leading up to the game.